Shingles - is it infectious to young children?!
Question: My mum has just been diagnosed with Shingles and she's feeling pretty unwell.
We're a bit worried because she came to visit me and was cuddling my 1 year old son on Monday and she was diagnosed with Shingles today (she went to the Drs this morning after a few days of feeling unwell and pain in her shoulder). She's been told by my Auntie that its infectious to young children (although her Dr didn't tell her anything about this). Could she have passed it onto him and if so what would be the symptoms? Would she need to stay away on Christmas day because of risk of infection?
Also is there anyway to stop the pain? She's in a lot of pain at the moment and although her Dr gave her anti-viral medication he didn't give her any painkillers. Paracetamol don't seem to be helping.
Answers: My mum has just been diagnosed with Shingles and she's feeling pretty unwell.
We're a bit worried because she came to visit me and was cuddling my 1 year old son on Monday and she was diagnosed with Shingles today (she went to the Drs this morning after a few days of feeling unwell and pain in her shoulder). She's been told by my Auntie that its infectious to young children (although her Dr didn't tell her anything about this). Could she have passed it onto him and if so what would be the symptoms? Would she need to stay away on Christmas day because of risk of infection?
Also is there anyway to stop the pain? She's in a lot of pain at the moment and although her Dr gave her anti-viral medication he didn't give her any painkillers. Paracetamol don't seem to be helping.
Shingles -- yes, shingles would be contagious to your child - if he has not had chickenpox or the vaccine yet.
Shingles is the chickenpox virus - a lesser form and found only in adults who have had chickenpox (or the vaccine). After someone has had chickenpox or the vaccine, they stay "infected" with the virus for life. The virus lives on nerve cells - most of the time the immune system is strong enough to prevent an outbreak but if some one has a compromised immune system - either from chronic illness, stress, recent illnes, or normal aging - the virus can reactivate and cause shingles.
While shingles is contagious it is only contagious to people who have not had either chickenpox or the the vaccine. You didn't say if your child was vaccinated yet - 1 year is about when they get the vaccine - but you should inform his doctor and keep on the lookout for chickenpox.
It would be better to ask the doctor how long she has to stay away from your son - there is some question over how long someone is contagious - the general concensus is after the lesions have crusted, they are ok.
The pain is nerve pain - -I would have her try ibuprofen instead of the paracetamol - it reliefs inflammation better. Warm or cool compresses may help. She should ask her doctor for somehting stronger.
I don't think you can catch shingles- you have to have had chicken pox first to get it. I think it happens because the chicken pox virus remains in your body and if you feel low it comes back as shingles, but is not infectious.
Sorry- I don't know how you would stop the pain, you could go back to the doctor and ask him?
Shingles is basically the adult form of chickenpox, so yes, it is contagious if the child has had chickenpox...
You cannot do much to avoid shingles. It is not caught from contact with someone with shingles or with chickenpox.
If you have shingles you should stay away from other people until the blisters have dried (usually about seven days), as there are virus particles in the blister fluid. The risk is that people who have not had chickenpox might catch that from you.
Those at particular risk are people whose immune system is not functioning normally (who are immunocompromised), as for example in people on steroids, chemotherapy for cancer or those with transplants or with AIDS, so do try to avoid contact with people in these categories if you have shingles.
The main thing is to take regular pain relief (an analgesic), possibly even better an anti-inflammatory pain killer (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), as long as these do not upset you or interact with any medications you may be taking. In addition calamine lotion can help to soothe the area.
Your doctor may want to prescribe a specific anti-viral agent, possibly in the form of treatment to be applied, or in the form of tablets. These are more likely to be used in someone whose eye is affected, or whose immune system is adversely affected by drugs or illness.
If any of the blisters become infected with ordinary germs (bacteria) the area becomes more red and sore (inflamed) and may take longer to heal. The doctor may treat this with antibiotics, in the form of a cream, or by mouth.
If the eye is affected (ophthalmic herpes) or looks like it may become affected, your doctor is likely to ask an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) to see you as a matter of urgency. The treatment is likely to involve specific anti-viral eye drops, and possibly treatment by mouth as well.
In the event of long-lasting pain (post herpetic neuralgia) you should consult further with your doctor, who may try alternative treatments, and sometimes may ask a pain specialist to see you.
Plenty of info at this link. Best of luck!
http://www.medinfo.co.uk/conditions/shin...
I've had shingles and its no picnic so i sympathise with your mum! Shingles is actually related to chicken pox but its a much more severe version. Check here there will be all the information you need about 'quarantining' your mum from kids etc...
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/art...
There's a list down the side of risks, treatment etc. this site is a great help!
Hi,
There is SO MUCH misinformation on both Shingles and Chickenpox out there.
She won't give your child SHINGLES, BUT, she could very well give him the CHICKENPOX. You are at risk of it too, as you can get chickenpox more than once.
Not sure if your child had the VZV vaccine, but, that may give some immunity to it. It can take up to 2 weeks for the virus to show up after exposure. If she is on the antiviral now, she may be ok for christmas time.....I would have her wear clothing that covers the area that is covered in shingles if possible (if on the arms or legs or torso) not share cups or utensils with anybody (this time of year, it is a bad idea to do that anyway if it sounds like you have a possibility of chickenpox happening), and, afterwards, (this is a good idea most times following a large gathering during flu/virus/cold season), spray lysol on door handles, bathroom surfaces, sink fixtures, phones, remotes, steering wheels, and use paper towels for everyone.
chickenpox can present with a feeling of unwell, as well as a rash unlike most others (very distinct). Fever, vomiting are not uncommon.
Good luck to you all. I wish I had something to suggest for the pain....she should call her doc, and have them prescribe something.
I've had shingles before, and i agree that it was no picnic. However, my DR said that it was not contagious. The infection (or whatever you want to call it) follows along the nerve lines and that's how it's spread. It's brought on by severe stress (least that's what my DR told me... and I agreeed. b/c at the time I was working 2 full time jobs, and going to the gym everyday. This went on for about 3 -4 months, and I got Shingles sometime in that period.)
As for stopping the pain, I just rode it out, as I had no idea what it was until I saw the DR, and by then - it was at the end of it's course. I had tried anti-bacterial soap, Cortizone-10, Calimime lotion.... So my DR gave me nothing.
first of all if your son gets chicken pox it wont be too bad cos hes so little.my son got it at 6 months and it really was not an ordeal for him in fact apart from the spots there weren't any symptoms.now for your mum tell her t o ask for 10mg of amytryptline its an antidepressant but not issued for that . it deals specifically for nerve pain and it does knock you out but it really works but better taken at night.traditional painkillers wont work on 'nerve' pain which is what you poor mum has cos the shingles virus travels along the nerve path. why do these thing always happen around Christmas?hope she gets sorted.
Your son wouldn't get Shingles, though there is a slight possibility that he may get Chicken Pox. I say slight because he is still a baby at a year old. He should still have some antibodies against it from his time in the womb! Even if he hasn't, It's a mild disease in young children.
Shingles only occurs in Adults who have already been infected when younger with Chicken Pox. The virus stays dormant until another illness or general weakness triggers it. (Most common in the older population)
It would be pointless her staying away on Christmas Day as the infectious period is usually before the rash appears and until any rash starts to dry up. She might not feel up to a family celebration though!
He won't show any symptoms yet either way but the things to watch out for in 10 - 14 days time are your baby being tired and slightly feverish. He may have a loss of appetite and, for a couple of days before the rash appears, a mild cough or a runny nose. Or he may just get a rash without any other symptoms. Chicken pox usually lasts five to ten days.
I doubt this will occur but at least you will be prepared for it if it does, but try not to worry about it and don't let it spoil your Christmas!
She should see either her Doctor or a Pharmicist about getting something for 'nerve pain'. Tell her to try putting a cold cloth or ice pack on the area to cool the burning too, a lot of her pain could be relieved with the combination of both! Hope she feels better soon.
I think everyone carries the shingles, it just comes out if the infection get targeted.